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Granite Status

John DiStaso's Granite Status: NY Republican Pete King meets with Gatsas, Horn as he weighs '16 presidential run

By John DiStaso, Senior Political Reporter

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6: RETURN OF (THE) KING. Republican New York congressman Pete King continues to get to know New Hampshire Republicans as he weighs a run for President in 2016.

The Long Island representative was in the first-in-the-nation primary state in August for a picnic at a friend's home in Wakefield.

He returned today for a series of meetings and media interviews, saying that while hasn't made a decision about a run, "I'm looking at it seriously , considering it and want to see what kind of response I get here. So far I've been getting a very good response so far.

"I also want to get a feel for the direction the party is going in and help local candidates," he said.

King said he met this morning with Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas and then went to Nashua and met with Republican State Committee Chair Jennifer Horn.

Tomorrow, King will keynote the Carroll County GOP Lobster Bake in Wolfeboro and attend the Seacoast Republican Women Chili Fest at the Scamman Farm in Stratham.

He said he'll be back next Sunday, Sept. 15, for the Strafford County GOP Barbecue and a NHGOP brunch, both in Dover.

And, he said, he'll be back in the state on Oct. 7 to speak at the New England Council's "Politics and Eggs" event at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

King said he remains concerned about the situation in Syria and "very disappointed" in President Obama.

He said many Republicans House members are opposing Obama on striking Syria "because they don't believe the President is serious enough about it."

King said he will support the Obama resolution, however, and will be on "Meet the Press" Sunday to address it.

(See earlier Granite Status reports elsewhere on this page or by clicking on "Granite Status" above.)